Anne Claire Grammer1, Jillian Shah1, Agatha A Laboe1, Claire G McGinnis1, Katherine N Balantekin2, Andrea K Graham3, Lauren Smolar4, C Barr Taylor5,6, Denise E Wilfley1, Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft1. 1. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. 2. Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA. 3. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 4. National Eating Disorders Association, New York, New York, USA. 5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA. 6. Center for m2Health, Palo Alto University, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore predictors of treatment seeking and uptake among individuals following an online eating disorders (EDs) screen in the U.S. disseminated by the National Eating Disorders Association. METHOD: Respondents who screened at risk or positive for a probable ED from 04/2019 to 05/2021 (N = 263,530) were eligible to complete a 2-month follow-up survey that assessed treatment seeking and uptake after being offered referral options following screening. Analyses were conducted using chi-square tests or logistic regressions. RESULTS: Sixty thousand thirty-four respondents (22.8%) opted-in to the follow-up survey, of whom 2276 (3.8%) completed it. Of the final analytic sample (n = 1922), 35.7% of respondents reported seeking and 22.4% reported receiving treatment. Treatment seeking and uptake were more common among respondents who were female, White, or >24 years of age; uptake was more common among respondents who were non-Hispanic or higher income. Elevated shape/weight concerns were significantly, albeit modestly, associated with reduced likelihood to receive treatment. DISCUSSION: Demographic differences in treatment seeking and uptake highlight the need to optimize ED screening tools/feedback to meet the needs of underserved groups and to address stereotypes and structural barriers that may interfere. Research is also needed to identify barriers to uptake among those with elevated shape/weight concerns. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Relatively low rates of treatment seeking and uptake were observed, particularly among underserved groups, 2 months following a widely disseminated online eating disorders screen. Optimization of online eating disorder screening tools and delivery of feedback and referral information may be needed to increase health care utilization.
OBJECTIVE: To explore predictors of treatment seeking and uptake among individuals following an online eating disorders (EDs) screen in the U.S. disseminated by the National Eating Disorders Association. METHOD: Respondents who screened at risk or positive for a probable ED from 04/2019 to 05/2021 (N = 263,530) were eligible to complete a 2-month follow-up survey that assessed treatment seeking and uptake after being offered referral options following screening. Analyses were conducted using chi-square tests or logistic regressions. RESULTS: Sixty thousand thirty-four respondents (22.8%) opted-in to the follow-up survey, of whom 2276 (3.8%) completed it. Of the final analytic sample (n = 1922), 35.7% of respondents reported seeking and 22.4% reported receiving treatment. Treatment seeking and uptake were more common among respondents who were female, White, or >24 years of age; uptake was more common among respondents who were non-Hispanic or higher income. Elevated shape/weight concerns were significantly, albeit modestly, associated with reduced likelihood to receive treatment. DISCUSSION: Demographic differences in treatment seeking and uptake highlight the need to optimize ED screening tools/feedback to meet the needs of underserved groups and to address stereotypes and structural barriers that may interfere. Research is also needed to identify barriers to uptake among those with elevated shape/weight concerns. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: Relatively low rates of treatment seeking and uptake were observed, particularly among underserved groups, 2 months following a widely disseminated online eating disorders screen. Optimization of online eating disorder screening tools and delivery of feedback and referral information may be needed to increase health care utilization.
Authors: Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Katherine N Balantekin; Andrea K Graham; Lauren Smolar; Dan Park; Claire Mysko; Burkhardt Funk; C Barr Taylor; Denise E Wilfley Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2019-02-13 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Kathina Ali; Louise Farrer; Daniel B Fassnacht; Amelia Gulliver; Stephanie Bauer; Kathleen M Griffiths Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2016-08-16 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Andrea K Graham; Mickey Trockel; Hannah Weisman; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Katherine N Balantekin; Denise E Wilfley; C Barr Taylor Journal: J Am Coll Health Date: 2018-10-09
Authors: Peter J Na; Satyanarayana R Yaramala; Jihoon A Kim; Hyelee Kim; Fernando S Goes; Peter P Zandi; Jennifer L Vande Voort; Bruce Sutor; Paul Croarkin; William V Bobo Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2018-02-17 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Neha J Goel; Karen Jennings Mathis; Amy H Egbert; Felicia Petterway; Lauren Breithaupt; Kamryn T Eddy; Debra L Franko; Andrea K Graham Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2022-01-29 Impact factor: 5.791
Authors: Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Katherine N Balantekin; Andrea K Graham; Bianca DePietro; Olivia Laing; Marie-Laure Firebaugh; Lauren Smolar; Dan Park; Claire Mysko; Burkhardt Funk; C Barr Taylor; Denise E Wilfley Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 2020-06-16 Impact factor: 4.861
Authors: Anne Claire Grammer; Melissa M Vázquez; Ellen E Fitzsimmons-Craft; Lauren A Fowler; Gavin N Rackoff; Natasha A Schvey; Sarah Ketchen Lipson; Michelle G Newman; Daniel Eisenberg; C Barr Taylor; Denise E Wilfley Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2021-05-15